fabric decision made

I made myself walk into the fabric room and pulled the only possible blue flannel that would work-hearts....but then, I could not bring myself to use it on Cody's quilt. Instead I am going to use up both the print leftovers and two of the blues I used. More work to stitch these secti0ns together, but, much more satisfying to use up more of that fabric and better suited to the front.

I think I am going to skip using batting-double flannel makes a nice enough weight for a year round quilt. Of course now I am hoping for a snow day-which would mean no work and a free day at home to quilt. It could happen tomorrow. I am going to sleep dreaming, let it snow!
With any luck, I will wake up to nothing but white outside.
I can feel that quilting energy building....

ok, off to dream about the white stuff...

dithering on what to do next

I am reconsidering how to finish Cody's quilt. I made my other two nephews flannel quilts with only flannel backs..no batting...the quilting was so much easier when I did that. I have not even gone into the fabric room to evaluate possible backs. Instead, I tidied up the loose yarn ends on a baby sweater I knitted recently. It's a gift for Christmas, but, until I see it go over her head...I am anxious about whether it truly fits. Sure looks cute however.

I am dedicated to making charity quilts for the foundation, WrapThemInLove.http://wraptheminlove.org and it is likely the head of this foundation will be in town on Sunday. My local group is meeting that day to turn in quilts and work on new ones.
I have a container full of finished quilts as well. I need to pull these quilts out-take photos and do my quality control thing. Meaning-I double check for loose threads, the label is filled out completely, and in general it's ready for some child to cuddle with. I also need to pull our log book and be ready for a year to date number ...as this meeting will be the last of the year. We may move locations...where we meet has changed their layout and we are limited in elbow room.

I have really slowed down on my charity quilt production. In view of deaths in my family, this year was crushing-a total of three -two being quite unexpected, and all within three months time. I also changed jobs a few times this year too. My partner had a major health scare.

All of these circumstances have influenced me to shift from charity quilting as a main focus to making sure the people I love have a quilt from me ....now. That feeling of I will get around to making a family member a quilt someday just shifted to top gear of now is the time.

So, after Cody's quilt, my brother's is next- which actually turns into two...a 49er football wall hanging from his way too small tee shirts that he adores and something suitable for the bedroom where his wife does not want a football themed quilt. Of course, she may not want a bed quilt at all. She has been decorating their new home and it's hard to know if she would welcome a quilt.

A dear friend is having a baby-the shower is in January-I have been thinking about what to make for her.

I have a cousin I also would like to make a couch throw for- as he and I are pretty close and live not too far from each other.

Then there is a quilt for me. I have flannel earmarked for me, in colors I love. So, I may not acheive my goal of using up all my flannel literally by year's end-but, I certainly have made a dent in it. I won't stop working on that goal however...so far I have made three bed sized quilts and three large twin sized quilts. I wish I could see that reflected in the amount still hogging space on the shelves in the fabric room.

It's a busy day ahead at work...early arrival, hopefully early departure day. This week through Saturday is my time frame for getting Cody's quilt totally done...I had better find the energy tonight to dive in on that next step.

Oh to be able to stay home and be a total quilting diva!

nephew's completed top photo

and here is the result of my marathon push to finish this top by the end of Sunday night. He wanted red and blue...and that is exactly what he got...now to pull backing fabrics and I am going to put batting into this quilt-the backing won't be flannel, so batting won't be too much weight for the quilt.

It measures 66 inches by 96 inches..a generous twin size for a growing boy. My mailing deadline is December 10th...expect future posts on progress of this quilt.

No quilting tonight..not much energy for much of anything beyond throwing a few salmon burgers on the grill and relaxing the rest of the evening.

introduction

I finally created my own blog-so welcome to it.

I have read blogs over the years- and wondered if what I had to say would be of interest to anyone else. Well, the online community of quilters shows the answer to that is yes.
Besides, this way I can combine my joy in quilting and writing together.

I find being a quilter to be my most creative outlet-and I believe we all need to find a way to express that energy we all share. I would not say I create art quilts...though I admire many, many of them....instead, I create quilts that please me.

I am currently on a mission to use up my flannel fabric stash. I am making a quilt for a nephew, Cody using the colors he chose- red and blue. I love to use as many different fabrics as possible, however, the design I chose and the colors he chose- limited the number to five. I am close to being done with the top-my goal is to devote most of today to working to that end.

I chose my tag due to the fact that I have a tendency towards marathon mode. I am usually the last one up at a quilt retreat-or will stay up all night if I feel driven to finish a particular quilt.
I can get quite obsessive when it comes to reaching certain goals.

I will post a photo of this top once I get it completed-but if I don't get off the computer, that won't happen sooner.

more about me in later posts...